Europe Warns Iran Over Nuclear Ambitions Amid Missile Launches
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – European powers urged Iran to observe a nuclear deal after the Islamic nation test-fired long-range missiles and planned uranium metal production.
Saturday’s launches in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean against land and sea targets were Iran’s fourth military show of force in two weeks amid rising tensions with Washington ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration as U.S. president.
If armed with nuclear warheads, these missiles could pose a severe threat to Israel, the Gulf, and U.S. forces in the region, according to Israeli and American officials.
Amid the standoff, Germany, France, and Britain pressed Iran on Saturday to back off the latest planned violation of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. They said Tehran has “no credible civilian use” for uranium metal, which can be used to manufacture the core of a nuclear weapon.
However, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had informed it that the nation began installing equipment to produce uranium metal anyway. Tehran reportedly maintains it plans to conduct research and development on uranium metal production as part of its “declared aim to design an improved type of fuel.”
VIOLATING THE DEAL
However, research on its production is prohibited under the nuclear deal — the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). Tehran signed the agreement with Germany, France, Britain, China, Russia, and the United States in 2015.
A joint statement from the German, French, and British foreign ministries said they are “deeply concerned” by the latest Iranian announcement. “Iran has no credible civilian use for uranium metal,” it added. “The production of uranium metal has potentially grave military implications.”
The three countries “urge Iran to halt this activity, and return to compliance with its JCPoA commitments without further delay if it is serious about preserving the deal.” The deal aims to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb in exchange for sanctions relief and economic support.
Declared President-elect Biden, who was vice president when the deal was signed during the Obama administration, has said he hopes to return the U.S. to the agreement. Outgoing President Donald J. Trump abandoned the agreement in 2018, calling it “a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made.” He added: It didn’t bring calm, it didn’t bring peace, and it never will.”
It was unclear whether Iran’s Revolutionary Guards firing long-range ballistic missiles into a part of the Indian Ocean was to force Washington into concessions.
BILLIONS AT STAKE
If Biden decides to re-join the deal, it would potentially make it easier for Iran to get access to tens of billions of dollars in oil revenue and frozen assets it desperately needs.
Saturday’s launches followed Friday’s testing of surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and locally manufactured new drones in the same area.
“One of our most important defense policy goals is to use long-range ballistic missiles against enemy warships, including aircraft carriers and warships,” said Guards commander Major General Hossein Salami in a statement.
With these missiles, which have a range of 1,800 kilometers (1,120 miles), he said, “we can now strike moving targets in the ocean,” instead of the usual low-speed cruise missiles. Chief of Staff General Mohammad Baqeri warned that while Iran had “no offensive intentions,” it would now be able to “respond to any hostile and malicious act in the shortest time.”
On Wednesday, Iran reportedly tested a short-range naval missile in the Gulf, and there were exercises earlier this month involving a broad arsenal of domestically produced drones.
Iran has one of the most extensive missile programs in the Middle East, experts say. Tehran views them as a deterrent and retaliatory force against the United States and other adversaries in the event of war.
Saturday’s massive missile launches by Iran’s military came shortly after the U.S. military flew two B-52 bombers to the Middle East. It was the fourth such deployment and show of force by the U.S. Air Force aimed at sending a message to Iran in the past two months, Washington confirmed.
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